Stargazer
Surin Legend
I'm new to Surin rice field farming, and have a technical question. We just bought a 50HP Kubota tractor with 6 disc and tiller. Our family rice fields are not near any irrigation canals, so we are limited to one natural rainfall rice crop a year. We are planning on growing off season feed for cows in the rice fields, using water from a large lake we've built. Most locals here disc the fields, usually with two passes, one cross. Some then also rototill it. That produces a finer soil grind.
I have read that over-tilling clay soil is problematical, as after rains a very finely ground soil can get hard and impervious.
A second issue is whether it is better long run to burn the perhaps 40cm rice stubble first, or better to disc it in. Burning is the most common here, which does lead to some pretty nasty air in the burn season. I've had to install HEPA air filters in our house in our village to deal with that.
I'd appreciate comments on these issues from some of the veteran farmers here. I'm an experienced equipment operator, and grew up on a farm, but am by no means a seasoned farmer.
I have read that over-tilling clay soil is problematical, as after rains a very finely ground soil can get hard and impervious.
A second issue is whether it is better long run to burn the perhaps 40cm rice stubble first, or better to disc it in. Burning is the most common here, which does lead to some pretty nasty air in the burn season. I've had to install HEPA air filters in our house in our village to deal with that.
I'd appreciate comments on these issues from some of the veteran farmers here. I'm an experienced equipment operator, and grew up on a farm, but am by no means a seasoned farmer.